KATHMANDU, Feb 16: Main opposition CPN-UML Chairman K P Oli has said that the party should be ready to accept voting on constitution amendment proposal in parliament for bringing the agitating Madhes-based political parties on board the elections. 

Presenting his political paper at the politburo meeting of the party on Wednesday, Oli however said that, the party agrees to vote on the amendment bill only if it is sure to fail. 

“We oppose any amendment as it unconstitutional. But we may have to agree to put the bill to a vote if is certain to fail,” said UML leader Ganga Lal Tuladhar.

Speaking during the meeting, Oli said that ruling parties have urged the UML to become flexible so that the poll could be held at the earliest. “Ruling party leaders have stated that if the UML agreed to put the amendment bill to vote then they would bring the Madhes-based parties on board the elections,” Tuladhar quoted Oli as saying at the meeting.
 
A second amendment bill brought by the government remains stuck in parliament due to continued obstruction of parliament by the opposition parties, which want unconditional withdrawal of the bill.
 
Oli, at the meeting, briefed the party leaders that if the poll date is not announced within the next few days, the chances of holding three sets of elections in the country will be lost. However, Oli has expressed doubts over the willingness of the ruling parties to conduct elections and pave the way for implementation of the constitution. “The political report of party chairman states that the ruling parties are working with the forces that want to fail the new constitution and push the country into a protracted constitutional crisis,” said UML leader Bhim Acharya. 

In his 10-page political report, Oli has concluded that if the government fails to conduct three sets of elections by January 2018 in line with the new constitution, extremist and separatist forces will hold sway in the country. 

 
• cpn-uml
 
• k p oli
 
• constitution amendment proposal
 
• parliament
 
• madhes-based political parties